Combined tone-arm and amplifier



V. MINNELLL COMBINED TONE ARM AND AMPLlHER. APPLICATION FILED JULY14,1920.

Patented Oct, 25, 19210 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR. M97421 [1.

' ATTORNEY.

v. MINNELLI. COMBINED TONE ARM AND AMPLIFIER. 7 APPLICATION FILED JULYI4, 1920. 1,395,053. I Patented Oct: 25, 1921:

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I I I I r i I INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENZO MINNELLI, OF PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED TONE-ARM AND AMPLIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed July 14, 1920. Serial No. 396,131.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINGENZO MINNELLI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittston, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new i end of the amplifier mountedon a support taking the place of the usual form of tone arm supportwhile the combined tone arm and amplifier take the place of. the usualtone arm and the amplifier or horn.

The invention has for another object the provision of a combined tonearm and amplifier with a special form of tone arm to which is connectedthe sound reproducer adapted to be turned so as to position the same forplaying different types of records such as the records having verticalundulations and those having horizontal undulations for the needle totravel in. p

The invention has for a further object the provision of an improved formof combined tone arm and amplifier which will'be of simple constructionand which may be readily incorporated with a reproducer, a spring motorand a turn table of the form used for graphophones or the like, toproduce a complete and simplified musical instrument of this character.

' The invention has for a further ob'ect the provision of a simple andefficient orm of combined tone arm and amplifier which will beconstructed in such a manner that it may be readily assembled and willreduce to the minimum and practically eliminate all metallic sound whenthe instrument is play- The invention has for a still further object,the provision of a novel form of support for the combined tone arm andamplifier and the tone arm connected therewith.

The invention has for a still further object, the provision of anoveland simplified form of tone arm having a hinged'reproducer carryingportion and a resilient connection between said hinged reproducercarrying portion and the adjacent portion of the tone arm which isconnected with the delivery duct leading to the tone arm and amplifierso that the tone arm may be readily adjusted upon the delivery duct toraise and lower the reproducer for proper adjustment of the latter overthe record to be played.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of acombined tone arm and amplifier in which the amplifier will be ofsubstantially elliptical form. or the form of a double pyramid andconnected with the delivery duct at the apex of one solid pyramid whilethe side and upper faces of the remaining pyramid are provided with aseries of gradually decreasing apertures having a series of perforationsand preferably in the form of stars and through which sound waves mayescape, the pyramids being 'hollow and connected at their spacedportions, a central connecting rod being extended through the pyramidsto hold them t9- gether upon the central connecting rings carried by thesupport.

With the foregoing .and other objects in view as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter morespecifically set forth, claimedand shown in the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in View as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter morespecifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present applicationand in which similar reference characters represent corre- Fi 6 is afragmentary detail plan show.- ing t e reproducer turned for playing arec- --o-rd having transverse undulations in its porting base has acentral opening 5 to receive the depending pin 6 carried in the post 7and loosely mounted therein in such a manner as to prevent the pin 6from dropping out the post 7. This post 7 has a cup 7' formed around itslower edge and adapted to ride upon the supporting base 3. This post 7has a transversely concaved and forwardly and downwardly inclined recess8 in its upper end. A lower horizontal bar 9 is extended forwardly fromone face of the post 6 and has a short upstanding hollow post 10 formedon its forward extremity. This post 10 also serves as part of thedelivery duct which includes an arm '11 extended laterally'from the sideof the post. posts 6 and 10 are braced by the inclined brace bar 12secured at their upper ends to the posts'6 and 10 respectively, whiletheir "lower endsare spaced apart and connected v with the arm 9. Thepost 10 also has a transversely curved and rearwardly and down .wardlyinclined pocket 13 formed in its up per end.

A central ring 14 has a fiat lower portion 15 'which is positionedtransversely across the center of the arm 9 and is secured there- 'on bysuitable securing members 16 passed through the offset ends of the strap1'7extended beneath the arm 9, as shown in the drawings. Y

The forward hollow section 18 of the combined amplifier is in the formof a pyramid of octagonal form in cross section andis of such size thatits large end isadaptedto fit over the flange 19 carried on the forwardface of the ring 14 and of octagonal form on its outer or-peripheralface. The section 18 has an opening 20 in its lower side face Whichregisters wiln the open upper end of the hollow post 10 when the section18 is placed in position. A gear section 20 is also in the form of apyramid of octagonal form in cross section and adapted to engage aflange 22 formed on the rear side face of the ring 14 and havin itsouter or 'peripheral edge constructedoi octagonal form so as to receivethe large end of the rear section 20 of the amplifier. This section 20alsohas a The plurality of sound wave escape openings arranged on itsupper and side faces and preferably graduated in size according to theWidthof the side and upper sections. These openings 21 are alsopreferably of the form of stars but maybe of any other shape, ifdesired. The connecting rod 23 extends longitudinally through theamplifier andhas nuts 24 or the'like threaded upon its opposite ends andbearing against the small ends or apexes of the pyramid forming the endsguidingpin 26 being carried by the delivery duct '11 to preventwithdrawal of the section 25 of the tone arm and at the same time permitlimited movement thereof for proper adjustment of the sound reproducer27 which is of conventional form and mounted for a limited rotation ineither direction on the depending annular portion 28 of the upper hingedsection 29 of the tone arm, a suitable pin 30 being carried by this end28 and extended through a slot 31. carried by the sound reproducer 27.This section 29 of the tone arm also includes a downwardly ex-' tendedannular portion '33 which is connected by a suitable hinge 34 with thefirst mentioned section 25 of the tone arm. A suitable spring 35 is alsoemployed to connect the sections 25 and 29 of the tone arm andresiliently retain the section 29 in normal position but permit readymovement thereof on the hinge 34 during the playingof a record, as willbe readily understoodby those familiar with this art. It is also to beunderstood that the section 25 of the tone arm does not rotate freely onthe delivery duct 11 but will remain in any adjusted position,

owing to the frictional engagement of the tWo parts of the device.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of the present application, it will be seen thatthis tone arm and amplifier, owing to the peculiar construction thereofand arrangement of the openings 21 will result'in a clear reproductionof the tone recorded on the record being played with all metallic soundreduced to the minimum. Furthermore this combined tone arm and amplifiermay be readily constructed of wood or a similar material and assembledon the mounting provided therefor.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it

will be understood that minor changes in the details of construction andarrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of what isclaimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a graphophone structure,an amplifier includingan elongated body, a' supporting member for said amplifier including aturn post, a supportingbase, means for mounting said turn post on thesupporting base, a horizontal arm extended from said turn post andhaving an upstanding forward hollow end, a sleeve extended from saidhollow upstanding end and .combining therewith to form a sound wave ductto support a reproducer carrying tone arm, angular rest arms extendedfrom the central of said horizontal arm to the turn post and theupstanding end of said horizontal arm, said elongated body of theamplifier resting upon said angular arm and the upper end' of said turnpost and the upstanding end of said horizontal arm, said amplifierhaving' a sound wave entrance opening communicating with said duct, saidamplifier having sound waveescape openings spaced from the sound waveentrance opening, and means for securing said amplifier upon saidsupport. I

2. In a graphophone structure,a supporting member including a turn post,an arm extended from said turn post, a hollow member mounted on saidarm, an amplifier mounted on said support and having communication withsaid hollow member, said amplifier having sound Wave openings spacedfrom said hollow member, a side extension carried by said ho'llow memberand forming therewith a sound wave duct,

and a reproducer carrying tone arm'adjustably mounted on said side armof the sound .tone arm, said amplifier being provided with sound escapeopenings at a distance from said entrance openlng, and means to securethe sections and hollow means together'.

4. An amplifier having hollow body sections Wider at one end that at theother, and connecting means for said sections to secure said wider endsin substantial registration.

;5 An amplifier having hollow body sections, and connecting means forsaid sections'to urge them toward each other.

6. In an amplifier, a movable bracket, spaced posts on said brackets, anarm bridging the posts, an amplifier means resting on the posts, andmeans to secure the amplifier 'means to the arm. I

7. In amplifier, a movable bracket having spaced posts and an armjoining the post, amplifier means resting on the post and being widestintermediate its ends, and means associated with the arm to secure saidwidest portion thereto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VINCE'NZO MINNELLI. Witnesses:

Jos. L. FERRALLJ, CLARMmo RIzzo.

